WEBVTT

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 William Leslie was a missionary to the Congo.

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 You might not have heard of him.

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! Anybody heard of him?

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 Most people haven't.

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 He was from Ontario, Canada.

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 He was a pharmacist until he was converted in 1888.

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 Then he moved to Chicago.

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 He had a growing desire to tell people the good news of the gospel

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 and a growing desire as a medical missionary.

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 He started serving in the Congo in 1893.

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 In 1905, he and his wife Carly pioneered a work in Koala, Angola.

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 There he overcame a hurricane and more mundane obstacles

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 like charging buffalo and armies of ants.

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 Seven years later, they cleared enough of a leopard-infested jungle

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 along the Koala River for a new mission station to be opened in Kanga.

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 Some villages surrounding that station in Kanga

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 were still practicing cannibalism.

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 They spent 17 years, Mr and Mrs Leslie, in that place,

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 proclaiming the gospel.

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 It ended on a really rocky note.

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 William Leslie had a relational falling out with the tribal leaders

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 and he was asked to leave the mission field

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 without seeing any fruit from his ministry.

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 It didn't end like he'd hoped.

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 He went back to the US after 17 years, a discouraged man.

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 He believed he'd failed to make an impact for Christ.

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 He died nine years later.

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 Failure hurts, doesn't it?

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 Failure hurts.

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 It is common to all who seek to serve the Lord.

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 That feeling that you've failed

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 and you've not achieved the grand vision of glory

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 that you set out for yourself in early days as a Christian.

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 All the times you hoped you'd be able to share your faith

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 and you were unable to do it.

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 It hurts when you remember those times.

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 It hurts when you remember the times you've not owned,

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 you've not stood up for the name of Christ in the workplace.

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 It hurts when you've been asked a question

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 and you've completely messed up the answer.

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 It hurts, doesn't it,

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 when you've failed to do the things that you dreamed you would do.

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 Failure hurts.

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 And it's very, very common.

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 Jesus said,

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 Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened,

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 and I will give you rest.

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 But it doesn't feel like that often.

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 Often we're crushed, aren't we,

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 by the expectation that we've placed upon ourselves

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 how often we have failed the Lord.

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 It's far easier, isn't it,

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 for you and I to remember the times of failure.

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 Isn't it?

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 And so how does this passage help us with that?

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 I've got three points.

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 The first point is this.

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 Paul, the apostle,

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 is smashed against the rocks in this passage.

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 Paul is smashed across the rocks in this passage.

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 I think the theme of the book of Acts,

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 the melodic line of Acts,

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 is one of wonderful encouragement,

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 that the church of Jesus Christ is unstoppable,

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 that the risen Lord Jesus Christ is building his church.

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 And as I've studied it,

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 and as you've heard it preached,

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 I hope you felt,

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 wouldn't it have been marvellous to go along with Paul

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 in some of those exciting parts of his journey?

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 Imagine being on the road to Damascus

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 when he's knocked off his horse

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 and he sees Jesus,

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 the risen Jesus,

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 in all his glory.

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 How exciting it would have been to follow him

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 when he preached at the Areopagus in Athens

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 and thousands of people listened to him.

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 Many people converting to Christ.

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 Imagine what it would have been like

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 to be with Paul in Ephesus

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 in those two years,

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 every lunchtime,

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 him arguing, debating,

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 preaching Christ.

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 Many people are coming to believe the word of the Lord.

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 Go to Acts 2 and Pentecost.

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 Thousands of people added to the church in one day.

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 The church exploding with growth.

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 In Ephesus, shaking the foundations of the economy.

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 But there have also been tough times,

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 haven't there?

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 Times when he was beaten up.

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 Times when he was left for dead.

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 Times when he was cast out of the city.

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 Times of amazing gospel fruit

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 and yet difficulties.

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 But exciting.

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 Acts 23 is not one of those passages.

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 If you could follow Paul anywhere,

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 you wouldn't want to follow him to Jerusalem.

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 And then on to Rome,

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 at least where he is now.

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 He's gone through a difficult time.

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 Do you remember last week?

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 He'd longed to go to Jerusalem.

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 He'd got this offering for the church there

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 from Gentile Christians to the needy church

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 and he arrives in Acts 22

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 and he gets a warm welcome at the beginning.

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 But then he begins to hear about Christians

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 who don't trust him,

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 who don't believe his motives to the needy church.

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 They think that he's trying to subvert God's law.

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 So James and him come up with this plan.

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 They come up with this plan

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 to convince the Jewish church

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 that Paul is a bona fide Jew

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 to the core.

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 He shaves off his head.

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 He goes to the temple.

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 He takes a vow.

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 He purifies himself.

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 And they hope that this is going to sort out

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 the division in the church.

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 But it's seen by someone

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 and they start to tell lies about him.

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 They say, look, here is a guy

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 who sought to bring a Gentile,

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 a non-Jew, into the temple,

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 which was forbidden.

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 And then an angry mob

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 drags him out to the streets

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 and they try to rip him to pieces

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 with their bare hands.

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 They throw rocks at him.

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 They try to maul him to death.

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 He's rescued by the Romans

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 because they want to prevent a riot.

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 Amazingly, he's able to stand up and preach.

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 Normally, in Paul's ministry,

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 when he starts to preach,

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 things get better.

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 He stands up to preach.

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 Loads of people become Christians.

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 But that isn't what's happened

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 in Acts 22.

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 At the start, everyone listens.

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 But at the end,

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 by the time he finishes,

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 they're baying for his blood.

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 There's no convergence here.

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 This is not a successful sermon.

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 They want him dead

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 and anything they can do

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 to grab their hands on him,

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 they throw at him.

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 The Romans snatch him away

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 and he ends up in a Roman barracks,

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 strung up,

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 and he's about to be whipped and scourged.

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 He's about to be tortured by the Romans

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 and he's saved by the skin of his teeth

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 because he's a Roman citizen.

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 And instead of being set free,

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 he's thrown into prison overnight

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 to face his accusers the next day.

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 It's not a great week

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 in the life of the Apostle Paul.

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 And that's where chapter 23 begins.

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 And it's at this point

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 we see a man under stress

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 and there's cracks in his armour.

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 He's shown remarkable restraint.

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 But in chapter 23,

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 he's brought to face his accusers

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 in the Sanhedrin.

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 And in verse 1,

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 looking intently at the accusers,

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 Paul says,

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 Brothers, I've lived my life

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 before God

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 in all good conscience

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 up to this day.

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 But then verse 2,

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 he's struck on the mouth

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 by the order of an unknown figure.

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 And Paul snaps.

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 You get the sense he's had enough.

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 Remember, he's been beaten,

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 he's been flogged,

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 he's been thrown in prison.

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 And then he says this,

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 he says,

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 God is going to strike you,

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 you whitewashed wall.

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 And you sit there judging me.

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 Are you sitting there

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 to judge me according to the law?

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 And yet contrary to the law,

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 you strike me.

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 He snaps.

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 He calls this Pharisee or Sadducee

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 a whitewashed wall.

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 What he says, in fact,

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 is not wrong.

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 But it's a brutal insult.

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 It's a way of talking about a tomb,

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 a decaying course.

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 It's the worst of insults

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 you can give to a religious leader

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 in that day.

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 He flings it at him.

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 And then he discovers

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 that it's the high priest

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 who gave this order.

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 And he very quickly repents.

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 Can you imagine

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 how it would have felt

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 to repent before that crowd

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 to say I got it wrong?

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 I did not know, brothers,

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 that this was the high priest

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 for it is written,

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 you shall not speak evil

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 of a ruler of your people.

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 It's not a great start

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 and things get worse.

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 He's probably at the end of his rope.

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 He doesn't know what to do.

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 He shouts probably

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 the most divisive thing

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 you can shout

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 in a room where there's Pharisees

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 and a room where there's Sadducees.

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 He says,

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 brothers,

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 I'm a Pharisee,

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 a son of Pharisees.

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 It is with respect

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 to the hope

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 and the resurrection

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 of the dead

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 that I'm on trial.

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 It is electrifying.

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 There is nothing

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 more divisive

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 and more dangerous

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 than he can say

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 in a room full

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 of religious zealots.

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 Half of the people

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 believed in the miraculous.

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 They believed in angels

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 and demons

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 and resurrection

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 and supernatural.

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 And the other half

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 did not believe

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 in any of that stuff.

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 And they forget

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 for a moment

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 that they are after Paul

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 and all of a sudden

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 they go at each other.

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 I was in the Shanachie pub

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 once outside

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 Ealing Broadway.

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 It's a remarkable place.

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 I was meeting,

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 I was late,

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 I was early for a meeting

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 so I went in there

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 and I was by the bar

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 and suddenly,

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 I don't know what happened

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 but a bar fight broke out.

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 And so I'm standing there

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 with my drink at the bar

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 and there are punches

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 being thrown

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 and I'm right in the middle of it.

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 I kind of joined it.

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 No, I didn't join it.

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 But there were stools,

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 there were broken windows,

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 there was no way out.

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 That's the scene here.

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 It's all kicking off.

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 It's like a wild west scene.

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 Tables flung over,

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 chairs get thrown,

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 they're trying actually

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 to kill each other.

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 And Paul's in the middle

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 of the chaos

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 and then the sheriff comes in,

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 he drags Paul

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 out of it

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 thinking he's going

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 to be ripped to pieces.

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 You might think

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 it's some kind of

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 clever tactic for Paul

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 but that isn't the case

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 because in chapter 24

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 and verse 20 to 21

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 Paul expresses regret.

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 He says,

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 or else let these men

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 themselves say

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 what room doing

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 they found me

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 when I stood

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 before the council.

00:10:32.660 --> 00:10:33.340
 Other than this

00:10:33.340 --> 00:10:34.680
 one thing that I cried out

00:10:34.680 --> 00:10:36.740
 that it is with respect

00:10:36.740 --> 00:10:37.700
 to the resurrection

00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:38.500
 of the dead

00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:39.379
 that I'm on trial

00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:40.360
 before you this day.

00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:41.180
 They can't find

00:10:41.180 --> 00:10:42.040
 anything wrong with me

00:10:42.040 --> 00:10:43.220
 except that I made this claim.

00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:47.320
 Of course Paul isn't

00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:49.820
 wrong in what he said

00:10:49.820 --> 00:10:51.660
 but he knows

00:10:51.660 --> 00:10:52.300
 it was a mistake,

00:10:52.400 --> 00:10:53.240
 he knows it was a blunder,

00:10:53.300 --> 00:10:54.080
 he regrets it.

00:10:55.840 --> 00:10:56.860
 And in the midst of this

00:10:56.860 --> 00:10:57.620
 Paul is thrown back

00:10:57.620 --> 00:10:58.420
 into a jail cell.

00:10:59.800 --> 00:11:00.840
 What happens in Acts

00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:01.860
 when Paul goes to jail?

00:11:03.180 --> 00:11:03.840
 Start singing,

00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:05.800
 church start praying,

00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:08.240
 there's gospel triumph

00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:09.240
 but not in Acts 23.

00:11:12.420 --> 00:11:13.360
 Instead we see Paul,

00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:13.920
 this image of him

00:11:13.920 --> 00:11:14.580
 not saying anything.

00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:17.440
 How would he feel

00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:18.379
 in that prison?

00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:21.000
 Failure.

00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:22.600
 That's how he would have felt.

00:11:24.680 --> 00:11:25.759
 And I think this is

00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:26.820
 probably one of the

00:11:26.820 --> 00:11:27.400
 blackest moments

00:11:27.400 --> 00:11:28.480
 in Paul's life and ministry.

00:11:31.160 --> 00:11:32.360
 Two simple applications

00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:33.280
 I want to point out to you.

00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:34.320
 Number one,

00:11:35.940 --> 00:11:36.560
 the weakness

00:11:36.560 --> 00:11:37.740
 and the humanity

00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:39.660
 of Christian leaders.

00:11:39.659 --> 00:11:44.199
 it's easy to put ministers

00:11:44.199 --> 00:11:45.620
 and elders on a pedestal

00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:48.399
 and to think that

00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:49.360
 they don't make mistakes

00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:50.019
 and that everything

00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:50.839
 they say is right

00:11:50.839 --> 00:11:53.419
 and we know,

00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:53.740
 don't we,

00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:54.819
 you know that that's not true.

00:11:54.820 --> 00:12:00.180
 And I don't want to go

00:12:00.180 --> 00:12:01.460
 into great detail on this

00:12:01.460 --> 00:12:02.400
 but it is obvious

00:12:02.400 --> 00:12:03.700
 that leaders

00:12:03.700 --> 00:12:04.960
 fail.

00:12:07.020 --> 00:12:08.180
 And when your leaders fail

00:12:08.180 --> 00:12:09.180
 please don't treat them

00:12:09.180 --> 00:12:10.500
 like the Sadducees

00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:11.160
 and the Pharisees.

00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:14.760
 Don't hurl abuse at us,

00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:15.319
 I trust

00:12:15.319 --> 00:12:16.659
 that you will treat us

00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:17.200
 with grace

00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:18.679
 as we seek to treat you

00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:19.039
 with grace.

00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:24.120
 It's an encouragement to me

00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:25.679
 that Paul here blunders.

00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:27.000
 He gets it wrong.

00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:30.039
 He lets people down

00:12:30.039 --> 00:12:30.700
 and he makes mistakes.

00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:34.200
 The second application

00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:34.939
 I want to make on this

00:12:34.939 --> 00:12:36.419
 is that if you've not faced

00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:38.679
 black and bleak days

00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:40.539
 in your service of the Lord

00:12:40.539 --> 00:12:41.100
 they will come.

00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:43.679
 You will.

00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:47.379
 Those days will come

00:12:47.379 --> 00:12:48.340
 when you let the Lord down

00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:49.200
 and they will be hard.

00:12:52.059 --> 00:12:52.620
 At those moments

00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.700
 when you are so broken

00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:54.759
 and you are so shocked

00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:55.860
 by your own inability

00:12:55.860 --> 00:12:57.000
 to serve the Lord

00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:57.659
 that you don't know

00:12:57.659 --> 00:12:58.080
 what to do

00:12:58.080 --> 00:12:58.740
 and you break down.

00:13:01.059 --> 00:13:02.259
 Have you ever experienced that?

00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:06.159
 If you faithfully serve the Lord

00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:06.939
 those days will come.

00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:11.100
 I've experienced a few

00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:12.519
 of those times in my life.

00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:18.439
 I can think of a church plant

00:13:18.439 --> 00:13:20.299
 that we tried early on

00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:20.980
 in my ministry

00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:21.620
 as a denomination

00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:23.139
 and we raised

00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:24.539
 ridiculous amounts of money

00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:25.200
 to do this plant.

00:13:25.340 --> 00:13:26.460
 We spent enormous amounts

00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:27.679
 of effort to do it.

00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:30.759
 And after four years

00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:32.200
 no matter how hard we tried

00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:33.580
 it just couldn't strengthen.

00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:35.600
 It put an enormous strain

00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:36.340
 on the planter

00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:37.019
 and his marriage

00:13:37.019 --> 00:13:38.120
 and after four years

00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:39.559
 it collapsed.

00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:42.779
 I was at the meeting

00:13:42.779 --> 00:13:43.979
 where I had to say

00:13:43.979 --> 00:13:44.919
 we've got to stop.

00:13:46.619 --> 00:13:47.799
 I caught the tube home

00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:50.439
 and wept on the tube.

00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:52.959
 It was heartbreaking.

00:13:53.179 --> 00:13:54.000
 Everything that had been

00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:54.539
 put into it

00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:55.139
 people that had given

00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:55.979
 their lives to it

00:13:55.979 --> 00:13:57.879
 and it didn't take.

00:14:00.619 --> 00:14:01.659
 I can think of a situation

00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:02.679
 in one of our congregations

00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:03.779
 where I was asked to help

00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:05.559
 and my input

00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:07.500
 actually made things worse

00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:09.000
 and kept making things worse.

00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:12.019
 I'd gone Zoom calls

00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:13.279
 thinking I was going to help

00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:14.500
 and come off the Zoom call

00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:16.960
 having not helped.

00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:20.580
 There have been times

00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:22.279
 when you've put your life

00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:23.059
 in my hands

00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:23.659
 as it were

00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:24.259
 as a pastor

00:14:24.259 --> 00:14:25.980
 and I've sought to try

00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:27.240
 and help and serve you

00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:29.779
 and to see the gospel

00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:30.600
 put you back together

00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:31.860
 and it's been like

00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:32.740
 it's gone away from me

00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:33.360
 I've dropped the ball.

00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:37.580
 And you carry that weight.

00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:42.740
 And if you serve the Lord

00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:43.379
 those matters

00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:45.000
 those times will come.

00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:48.259
 The question is

00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:49.340
 how do you face those moments?

00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:53.539
 How will you deal

00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:54.340
 with such a thing?

00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:57.720
 When the words of Jesus

00:14:57.720 --> 00:14:58.340
 who says

00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:59.320
 my yoke is easy

00:14:59.320 --> 00:15:00.139
 and my burden is light

00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:01.639
 seem like the biggest lie ever

00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:04.379
 how will you face that moment?

00:15:06.439 --> 00:15:07.519
 Well that's my second point.

00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:10.519
 My second point is

00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:11.419
 well first point was

00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:12.340
 Paul hit the rocks

00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:13.139
 the second point is

00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:14.159
 the rock of ages

00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:15.279
 stands by.

00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:16.559
 Look at verse 11.

00:15:19.539 --> 00:15:20.939
 Standing by the rock of ages

00:15:20.939 --> 00:15:22.240
 Paul is at the bottom

00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.620
 of the emotional ditch

00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.620
 he's in one of the most

00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:25.500
 discouraging passages

00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:26.000
 of his life

00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:26.759
 and we come across

00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:28.319
 one of the most encouraging verses

00:15:28.319 --> 00:15:29.460
 in the whole of the book of Acts.

00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:32.220
 the following night

00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:33.660
 the Lord stood by him

00:15:33.660 --> 00:15:35.680
 and said

00:15:35.680 --> 00:15:36.639
 take courage

00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:39.259
 for as you've testified

00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:40.360
 to the facts about me

00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:40.700
 in Jerusalem

00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:41.920
 so you will also testify

00:15:41.920 --> 00:15:42.360
 in Rome.

00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:46.100
 He hears in that cell

00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:46.980
 the Lord

00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:48.540
 himself

00:15:48.540 --> 00:15:49.360
 speak to him.

00:15:51.300 --> 00:15:52.160
 The Lord speaks

00:15:52.160 --> 00:15:52.400
 and says

00:15:52.400 --> 00:15:53.180
 as you've testified

00:15:53.180 --> 00:15:54.200
 to me in Jerusalem

00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:56.519
 you've not failed

00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:58.340
 so you will testify

00:15:58.340 --> 00:15:58.759
 in Rome.

00:15:59.460 --> 00:16:01.340
 and the words

00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:03.080
 from his master

00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:04.080
 and Lord speak to him

00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:04.920
 though he's failed

00:16:04.920 --> 00:16:05.740
 in his own eyes

00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:07.900
 the Lord himself

00:16:07.900 --> 00:16:08.519
 gathers him up

00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:09.019
 and claims him

00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:09.480
 for his own.

00:16:11.420 --> 00:16:12.100
 And that's not

00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:12.700
 what we would do.

00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:15.080
 That's not what

00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:15.980
 the world does

00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:16.360
 is it?

00:16:19.040 --> 00:16:20.040
 When we fail

00:16:20.040 --> 00:16:20.680
 and we want to

00:16:20.680 --> 00:16:21.759
 abandon ourselves

00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:22.400
 and when we want to

00:16:22.400 --> 00:16:23.280
 hide in our ditch

00:16:23.280 --> 00:16:24.280
 what would the world do?

00:16:24.340 --> 00:16:25.320
 The world will abandon you.

00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:26.200
 It will cancel you.

00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:28.900
 But Jesus will not.

00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.520
 That is not the way

00:16:31.520 --> 00:16:32.220
 he works

00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:33.180
 but it gets even better

00:16:33.180 --> 00:16:33.740
 than that isn't it?

00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.780
 The Lord himself

00:16:34.780 --> 00:16:35.840
 stood near to Paul

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:38.840
 when he spoke those words.

00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:41.560
 It wasn't a voice note.

00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:44.080
 It wasn't a text message.

00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:44.840
 The Lord himself

00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:45.500
 stood near.

00:16:46.540 --> 00:16:47.900
 He didn't send an angel

00:16:47.900 --> 00:16:49.980
 to stand near Paul.

00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.840
 The Lord himself

00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:51.820
 the maker of heaven

00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:52.220
 and earth

00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:53.500
 came and stood with Paul

00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:55.580
 in a stinking Roman jail.

00:16:55.680 --> 00:16:56.879
 The incarnated Lord

00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:57.639
 left heaven.

00:16:58.960 --> 00:16:59.800
 He who was born

00:16:59.800 --> 00:17:00.440
 in a stable

00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:01.659
 the incarnated Lord

00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:02.340
 who left heaven

00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:03.100
 and died on a cross

00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:03.960
 leaves heaven again

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:05.019
 and comes to stand

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.620
 by his servant.

00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.339
 He stands with him

00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:09.920
 in that mess.

00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.440
 It's amazing.

00:17:13.140 --> 00:17:14.640
 He stood near Paul.

00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:15.400
 When did he do that?

00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:19.340
 On that night

00:17:19.340 --> 00:17:22.640
 the following night

00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:23.640
 he needed to hear

00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:24.480
 those words the most.

00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:25.640
 That is when he came

00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:26.780
 not a week before

00:17:26.780 --> 00:17:27.700
 not a week after

00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:28.300
 not a month

00:17:28.300 --> 00:17:29.019
 down the line.

00:17:30.620 --> 00:17:31.960
 Not when everything

00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:32.940
 was going well

00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:34.160
 right in the ditch

00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:34.880
 is the moment

00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.000
 the Lord showed up

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.680
 and gave Paul

00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:38.060
 the most encouraging words

00:17:38.060 --> 00:17:38.700
 he could ever have.

00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.460
 When he proved true

00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:43.140
 those words

00:17:43.140 --> 00:17:44.200
 I will never leave you

00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:44.960
 nor forsake you.

00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:47.640
 What a wonderful saviour

00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:49.860
 to Paul

00:17:49.860 --> 00:17:50.920
 and to us Jesuses.

00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:54.200
 Paul has stuffed up

00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:55.460
 and Jesus steps in

00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:57.640
 and claims him

00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:58.700
 afresh as his own.

00:18:00.540 --> 00:18:01.580
 You know the phrase

00:18:01.580 --> 00:18:02.880
 Dutch courage?

00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:06.960
 In the First World War

00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:08.900
 soldiers were given

00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:10.460
 rum rations twice a day

00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:12.720
 and the medical reason

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:14.000
 was that the rum ration

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.759
 would combat

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:17.140
 the cold.

00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:19.880
 But it did another effect

00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:21.960
 for a cold and frozen soldier.

00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:23.079
 It didn't just warm

00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:23.839
 his temperature

00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:26.079
 but also it warmed

00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:26.900
 a soldier's heart

00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:27.420
 they said.

00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:30.140
 And maybe gave them

00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:30.940
 enough courage

00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:31.740
 to stand up

00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.519
 for what they needed to.

00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:35.299
 Because courage

00:18:35.299 --> 00:18:36.859
 in a man at war

00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:38.059
 can be a very powerful thing

00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:38.539
 can't it?

00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:41.139
 But Jesus doesn't want us

00:18:41.139 --> 00:18:42.379
 to rely on Dutch courage.

00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.119
 He doesn't want us

00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:44.019
 to take a sip of whiskey

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:45.220
 and then we do something brave.

00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:48.059
 He asks us to listen

00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:49.180
 to his words this morning

00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:50.940
 which are this

00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:52.519
 take courage.

00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:55.440
 Take courage.

00:18:56.879 --> 00:18:57.899
 And the Lord Jesus

00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:59.240
 he is the source

00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:01.119
 of all Christian courage.

00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:02.000
 courage.

00:19:02.179 --> 00:19:02.819
 The Greek word

00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:04.259
 that Jesus uses here

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.500
 is only ever used

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.000
 by Jesus

00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:06.739
 in the New Testament.

00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:09.739
 In Matthew 9 verse 2

00:19:09.739 --> 00:19:11.079
 he speaks to a paralysed man

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:12.079
 who's brought on a stretcher

00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:12.259
 to him

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:12.759
 and he says

00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.500
 to that man

00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.299
 take heart

00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:15.939
 take courage.

00:19:16.899 --> 00:19:17.639
 It's the same word

00:19:17.639 --> 00:19:18.139
 as courage here.

00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.859
 Your sins have forgiven you.

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:22.159
 In Matthew 9 verse 22

00:19:22.159 --> 00:19:22.659
 there's a woman

00:19:22.659 --> 00:19:23.259
 who's been bleeding

00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:24.159
 for 12 years

00:19:24.159 --> 00:19:25.439
 who touches his garment

00:19:25.439 --> 00:19:26.459
 and is healed

00:19:26.459 --> 00:19:27.739
 and Jesus says to her

00:19:27.739 --> 00:19:28.699
 take heart

00:19:28.699 --> 00:19:30.019
 take courage.

00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.980
 Daughter your faith

00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.660
 has made you well.

00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:34.960
 And when the disciples

00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:35.960
 are afraid

00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:38.019
 and they think

00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.920
 they see a ghost

00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:40.000
 walking past them

00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.720
 on the water

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.460
 past their boat

00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:42.759
 Jesus calls out to them

00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.160
 and he says

00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:43.799
 take heart.

00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:46.379
 Take courage.

00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:47.379
 Do not be afraid.

00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:50.059
 And this word

00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:50.720
 take heart

00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.579
 take courage

00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.740
 uniquely belongs

00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.220
 to Jesus.

00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:55.099
 And he says to Paul

00:19:55.099 --> 00:19:56.160
 and to all believers

00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:56.839
 who are afraid

00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:57.900
 in moments of failure

00:19:57.900 --> 00:19:59.180
 and moments of doubt

00:19:59.180 --> 00:19:59.700
 courage.

00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:00.920
 take heart.

00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:03.160
 I'm with you.

00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:06.980
 And Christian courage

00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:08.660
 solely belongs

00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:09.619
 to Jesus

00:20:09.619 --> 00:20:10.980
 and it only comes

00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:11.480
 from Jesus.

00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:15.019
 And the application

00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:15.420
 is this.

00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:15.900
 Jesus

00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:18.920
 is not far

00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.920
 from any of you

00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:21.099
 who serve him today.

00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:24.259
 He's right beside you

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:24.759
 when you fall

00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:26.759
 and when you fail.

00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:29.779
 Jesus does not

00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.480
 reject you.

00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:31.539
 He stands by you.

00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:34.359
 And he's with you

00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:35.160
 as it's not

00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:36.059
 how the world works.

00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.379
 It's not how

00:20:38.379 --> 00:20:38.940
 we would work.

00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.599
 It's certainly

00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:40.980
 not how idols work.

00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:42.660
 But it is the way

00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.359
 that Jesus works.

00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:46.119
 And that's why

00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:47.140
 Jesus can say to you

00:20:47.140 --> 00:20:48.299
 take up your cross

00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:49.660
 and follow me

00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:50.619
 which is the heaviest

00:20:50.619 --> 00:20:51.720
 burden that you can imagine.

00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:53.460
 And then he says to you

00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:53.880
 my hope,

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.559
 my yoke is easy

00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:55.339
 and my burden is light.

00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:59.600
 And he's not saying to you

00:20:59.600 --> 00:21:00.480
 take up your cross

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.339
 and if you drop it

00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:02.319
 I'm done with you.

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.500
 It's over.

00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:07.059
 He says to me

00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:07.620
 I love you.

00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:11.159
 I will not leave you.

00:21:12.399 --> 00:21:13.779
 I will not forsake you.

00:21:15.699 --> 00:21:16.879
 When we come to the

00:21:16.879 --> 00:21:17.599
 Lord's table tonight

00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:18.299
 will you come?

00:21:18.459 --> 00:21:19.299
 Because what do you hear

00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:20.159
 at the Lord's table tonight?

00:21:20.239 --> 00:21:21.079
 You hear the words

00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:21.919
 I love you.

00:21:22.719 --> 00:21:23.819
 I will not leave you.

00:21:23.959 --> 00:21:24.919
 I will not forsake you.

00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:27.319
 I've died for you.

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.539
 And you hear the Father say

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:31.339
 you are my child forever

00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:32.659
 and whoever the Father

00:21:32.659 --> 00:21:33.939
 puts in my hand

00:21:33.939 --> 00:21:35.239
 no one can snatch away.

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:38.359
 And so your security

00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:39.380
 and my security

00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:40.539
 as children of God

00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.359
 is not based on

00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:42.099
 what we've done

00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:45.480
 but on the fact

00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:46.480
 that he claims you

00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:48.640
 because of the cross

00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:49.140
 as his own.

00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:51.519
 Nothing,

00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:53.019
 nothing works this way.

00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:53.759
 Only the gospel.

00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.559
 And if today

00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.859
 you're hoping for anything else

00:21:57.859 --> 00:22:00.980
 for your future

00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:02.339
 or for your children

00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:03.500
 or for your family

00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:04.420
 or for your security

00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:05.300
 it will fail you.

00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:06.080
 I promise you

00:22:06.080 --> 00:22:06.620
 it will fail you.

00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:07.600
 I guarantee you it.

00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:12.100
 You trust in a partner.

00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:14.440
 You trust in a marriage.

00:22:14.580 --> 00:22:15.600
 It'll never give you

00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:16.080
 the satisfaction

00:22:16.080 --> 00:22:16.700
 that you need.

00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:18.120
 You trust in having children

00:22:18.120 --> 00:22:18.940
 and having a family.

00:22:19.100 --> 00:22:20.100
 It'll never be

00:22:20.100 --> 00:22:20.820
 what you want to do.

00:22:22.100 --> 00:22:23.180
 You think that the job

00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:23.720
 will give you

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.360
 the security

00:22:24.360 --> 00:22:25.060
 and the image.

00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:26.300
 Money will do it for you.

00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:27.580
 It won't do it for you.

00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:33.619
 But Jesus will never fail you

00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:35.079
 even when you fail him.

00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:39.279
 He died for us

00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:40.199
 when we were at our worst.

00:22:41.699 --> 00:22:42.480
 He died for us

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.319
 when we were as far away

00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:44.460
 from God as we could be

00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:45.099
 and he's not going to

00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:45.679
 let go of you.

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.740
 And that's my story.

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:52.519
 That's the story

00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.099
 of so many

00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:53.660
 in this congregation

00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:54.259
 this morning.

00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:57.819
 Because it's true

00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:58.120
 isn't it

00:22:58.120 --> 00:22:59.220
 that in those moments

00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:03.220
 when you've

00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:04.220
 you've messed up

00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:04.819
 the most

00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:07.839
 it's in those moments

00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:10.079
 where you break down

00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:14.640
 that it's in those moments

00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:16.140
 you discover

00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:17.059
 what grace really means.

00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:20.579
 And so hear him

00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.159
 say to you

00:23:21.159 --> 00:23:21.659
 this morning

00:23:21.659 --> 00:23:23.940
 take courage

00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:24.440
 I am with you.

00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:28.419
 So the first point is

00:23:28.419 --> 00:23:29.679
 Paul is smashed

00:23:29.679 --> 00:23:30.079
 to the rocks.

00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.099
 The second point is

00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:32.799
 Jesus the rock of ages

00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:33.579
 is standing with him

00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:34.359
 and the third point is

00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:35.079
 you can be carried

00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:35.819
 through the rocks.

00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:39.599
 Paul's words

00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:40.339
 in verse 11

00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:41.039
 just look down there

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.339
 with me

00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:42.220
 they are

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:43.539
 they are the easiest

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.359
 thing to say

00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:44.980
 but then

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:49.180
 look at the next verse

00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:52.440
 they're the most

00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:53.059
 wonderful words

00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:53.539
 verse 11

00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:54.160
 but then look at

00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:54.880
 verse 12

00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:57.200
 the next morning

00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:57.799
 some Jews

00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.839
 formed a conspiracy

00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.819
 and bound themselves

00:23:59.819 --> 00:24:00.240
 with an oath

00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:00.839
 that we will not

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:01.640
 eat or drink

00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:04.079
 until they'd kill Paul.

00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.420
 There's 40 of them

00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:07.559
 involved in this plot

00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.140
 more than that

00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:08.799
 but they go to

00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.319
 the chief priests

00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:09.779
 and the elders

00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:10.860
 and they say

00:24:10.860 --> 00:24:12.160
 that they are making

00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:12.779
 a solemn oath

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:14.460
 not to eat anything

00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:15.299
 until we've killed Paul.

00:24:16.620 --> 00:24:18.059
 It's a vicious mob

00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:19.620
 of religious fanatics.

00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.519
 Sanhedrin gets involved

00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:23.100
 at this point

00:24:23.100 --> 00:24:24.920
 so much for God's protection.

00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.740
 There's a young man

00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:30.100
 we don't know how old he is

00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:32.539
 he's a young man

00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.440
 he's actually Paul's nephew

00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.960
 Paul's sister's boy

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:36.019
 he hears about the plot

00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:36.860
 how did he hear about it

00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:37.380
 we don't know

00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:39.340
 and he goes

00:24:39.340 --> 00:24:40.420
 and he takes the news

00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:40.940
 to Paul

00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:42.120
 and then Paul takes it

00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:42.620
 to the commander

00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.739
 and he listens to the plot

00:24:43.739 --> 00:24:44.879
 and then this amazing thing

00:24:44.879 --> 00:24:45.839
 happens verse 23

00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:47.599
 and he called unto him

00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:48.379
 two centurions

00:24:48.379 --> 00:24:49.599
 saying make ready

00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.500
 200 soldiers

00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.819
 to go to Caesarea

00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:52.779
 and horsemen throughout

00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:54.219
 three score and ten

00:24:54.219 --> 00:24:55.779
 and spearmen 200

00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:57.659
 at the third hour of the night

00:24:57.659 --> 00:24:58.559
 and provide them beasts

00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.479
 so that they may set

00:24:59.479 --> 00:25:00.339
 Paul on

00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:01.699
 and bring him safe

00:25:01.699 --> 00:25:03.079
 and to Felix the governor.

00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:05.979
 And it looks like

00:25:05.979 --> 00:25:06.779
 everything's going wrong

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.159
 isn't it?

00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:10.019
 But God uses

00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:11.900
 this insignificant person

00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:12.920
 we don't know his age

00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:13.740
 we don't know his name

00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.620
 we don't know what he heard

00:25:14.620 --> 00:25:17.440
 a person who everyone else

00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:17.960
 has forgotten

00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:19.180
 in order to bring about

00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:20.240
 this great rescue for Paul

00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:23.640
 and he doesn't just use

00:25:23.640 --> 00:25:25.420
 this tiny insignificant nobody

00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:27.640
 he uses the might of Rome

00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.000
 as well

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.560
 can you see that?

00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.700
 To rescue Paul

00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.980
 and not to just rescue Paul

00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.740
 to take Paul

00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.700
 from Jerusalem

00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.700
 to Rome

00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.580
 to the ends of the earth

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.240
 do you remember the theme

00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:36.960
 of the book of Acts?

00:25:37.439 --> 00:25:38.139
 You'll be my witnesses

00:25:38.139 --> 00:25:39.119
 in Jerusalem

00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:40.179
 Judea, Samaria

00:25:40.179 --> 00:25:41.500
 and the ends of the earth

00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:42.099
 that is Rome

00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:46.839
 and so in this passage

00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:47.480
 which on one level

00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.379
 is so depressing

00:25:48.379 --> 00:25:49.199
 on the surface level

00:25:49.199 --> 00:25:50.439
 we see that everything

00:25:50.439 --> 00:25:51.899
 in the world of the universe

00:25:51.899 --> 00:25:52.619
 of the economy

00:25:52.619 --> 00:25:53.319
 of everything

00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.599
 is in the hands of God

00:25:54.599 --> 00:25:57.859
 and from the tiniest person

00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:58.720
 the youngest person

00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.259
 in our church

00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:00.519
 to the mightiest army

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.339
 in the world

00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:03.379
 that they are nothing

00:26:03.379 --> 00:26:04.139
 but a tool

00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:04.820
 in the hands

00:26:04.820 --> 00:26:05.759
 of almighty God

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:07.380
 to fulfil his purposes

00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:07.980
 in this world

00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:12.600
 Paul goes to bed

00:26:12.600 --> 00:26:13.100
 of failure

00:26:13.100 --> 00:26:15.540
 and he hears

00:26:15.540 --> 00:26:16.600
 the words of Jesus

00:26:16.600 --> 00:26:18.140
 and he wakes up

00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:18.620
 and is given

00:26:18.620 --> 00:26:19.620
 a kingly escort

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:21.120
 all the way

00:26:21.120 --> 00:26:21.880
 to Governor Felix

00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:25.600
 he wakes up

00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:26.280
 in jail

00:26:26.280 --> 00:26:28.000
 he goes to bed

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.520
 in a palace

00:26:28.520 --> 00:26:29.220
 the next night

00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:31.000
 carried through

00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.520
 the rocks

00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:35.200
 God will see it done

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:38.160
 the application

00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:38.879
 is really simple

00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.200
 isn't it

00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:40.259
 God will see it done

00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:44.279
 maybe you've been taught

00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:45.579
 maybe you've heard this

00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:47.240
 where people say to you

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:48.440
 God has a wonderful

00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:50.259
 plan for your life

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.339
 you heard that?

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.099
 God has a wonderful

00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:53.019
 plan for your life

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:57.400
 and I think it's told

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:58.480
 a bit disingenuously

00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:58.819
 really

00:26:58.819 --> 00:27:01.920
 and tragically

00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:03.059
 that is often told

00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:03.879
 as God doesn't want

00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:04.420
 you to suffer

00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:06.700
 that God doesn't want

00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:07.180
 you to go through

00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:07.879
 a difficult time

00:27:07.879 --> 00:27:08.500
 God wants you

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.480
 to have an easy life

00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.000
 and that is

00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.440
 not true

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:12.420
 it is a lie

00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:14.859
 because anyone

00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:15.660
 who reads the life

00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.339
 of Jesus

00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.079
 and who reads

00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:17.900
 the life of Paul

00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.980
 will know it's not true

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:22.640
 but it's not that God

00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:23.579
 doesn't have a wonderful

00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:24.299
 plan for your life

00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.480
 God did have a wonderful

00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:26.500
 plan for Paul's life

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:28.000
 it was a life of living

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.720
 for his king

00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:32.220
 of making much of Jesus

00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.180
 in every situation

00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:33.960
 in adversity

00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:34.839
 and in riches

00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:37.420
 whatever opportunity

00:27:37.420 --> 00:27:37.819
 he had

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.519
 whether it was in prison

00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.079
 or the palace

00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:40.059
 he proclaimed to Jesus

00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:43.039
 and there's no more

00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.660
 wonderful plan

00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:44.059
 for your life

00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:44.420
 than that

00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:47.579
 but that doesn't mean

00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:48.000
 that your life

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.539
 will be easy

00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:50.399
 in fact

00:27:50.399 --> 00:27:51.059
 the promise is

00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:51.859
 your life will be hard

00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:55.099
 but it is a wonderful plan

00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:58.240
 that Jesus is with you

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:59.460
 as you go through it

00:27:59.460 --> 00:28:02.899
 it's true isn't it

00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:03.519
 I don't know who said it

00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:04.399
 but you are immortal

00:28:04.399 --> 00:28:06.460
 until you've achieved

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.039
 the purpose

00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:09.000
 for which God created you

00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:10.420
 it's a wonderful plan

00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:13.799
 and so in summary

00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:14.480
 we get smashed

00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:15.180
 against the rocks

00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:16.039
 it is inevitable

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:16.940
 in Christian service

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.879
 but in those places

00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:18.600
 you find

00:28:18.600 --> 00:28:18.600


00:28:18.600 --> 00:28:20.020
 the rock of ages

00:28:20.020 --> 00:28:21.340
 standing closely by

00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:23.940
 and Jesus is able

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.480
 to carry you

00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.080
 through the rocks

00:28:25.080 --> 00:28:28.280
 I've told you

00:28:28.280 --> 00:28:28.760
 this story before

00:28:28.760 --> 00:28:29.460
 but there's a little boy

00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:29.840
 who was taken

00:28:29.840 --> 00:28:30.740
 to a piano concert

00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:32.220
 to the great

00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:32.800
 Padarowski

00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.879
 in the States

00:28:33.879 --> 00:28:34.899
 little boy

00:28:34.899 --> 00:28:35.419
 he was a bit bored

00:28:35.419 --> 00:28:36.339
 before the start

00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:36.899
 of the concert

00:28:36.899 --> 00:28:38.740
 kind of went off

00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.240
 from his mum

00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.339
 and he managed to find

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.299
 a way onto the stage

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:43.319
 where he's oblivious

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.059
 to all the crowds

00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.940
 that are around him

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:47.500
 he sits on the piano stool

00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.279
 the grand piano

00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:49.559
 and he starts to play

00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:50.139
 chopstick

00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:52.019
 on a very fancy piano

00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:55.759
 he's not playing it

00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.319
 very well

00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:58.980
 and the crowd

00:28:58.980 --> 00:28:59.579
 initially thinks

00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.299
 it's really cute

00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:01.759
 but after a few moments

00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.700
 they get a bit bored

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.680
 and unruly

00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:04.700
 and they're thinking

00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.139
 to himself

00:29:05.139 --> 00:29:06.299
 where's this guy's mother

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:08.440
 what's his mother

00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:08.740
 doing

00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.619
 and she's

00:29:09.619 --> 00:29:10.700
 hiding away

00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:11.400
 totally ashamed

00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:11.879
 in her seat

00:29:11.879 --> 00:29:14.180
 until the great

00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:15.319
 composer Padarowski

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:15.960
 hears

00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:17.420
 chopsticks being played

00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:18.379
 he hears the crowds

00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:18.900
 booing

00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:20.940
 and he throws on his cloak

00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:23.380
 as quickly as possible

00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:24.680
 the great pianist

00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:25.780
 runs out onto the stage

00:29:25.780 --> 00:29:26.460
 he sees the boy

00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:26.820
 playing

00:29:26.820 --> 00:29:27.740
 and he leans over him

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:28.759
 and he starts to play

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.160
 a melody

00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:30.259
 on either side of him

00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:32.380
 he whispers

00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:33.360
 in the boy's ear

00:29:33.360 --> 00:29:35.320
 keep going my child

00:29:35.320 --> 00:29:35.960
 don't quit

00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:37.800
 keep playing

00:29:37.800 --> 00:29:39.300
 don't quit

00:29:39.300 --> 00:29:40.140
 I'm with you

00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:43.140
 it's a wonderful story

00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:43.360
 isn't it

00:29:43.360 --> 00:29:44.040
 it's a preacher story

00:29:44.040 --> 00:29:44.560
 so I don't even know

00:29:44.560 --> 00:29:45.120
 whether it's true

00:29:45.120 --> 00:29:46.840
 I want it to be true

00:29:46.840 --> 00:29:47.220
 alright

00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:48.240
 but it was

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:53.660
 and so we trust

00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:54.039
 in Jesus

00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:54.480
 this morning

00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:57.920
 we know Jesus

00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:58.759
 and we all have a tune

00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.259
 to play

00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:00.180
 and we're tinkering

00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:01.039
 away at the piano

00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:02.000
 and often it feels

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.500
 like we're playing

00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.299
 chopsticks badly

00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:06.200
 but we have a

00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:06.880
 saviour lord

00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:07.960
 who's filling in the notes

00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:10.339
 who's making

00:30:10.339 --> 00:30:11.079
 it beautiful

00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:11.720
 who whispers

00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.640
 in your ear

00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:13.220
 this morning

00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:14.019
 and at his table

00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:14.480
 tonight

00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:15.559
 keep going

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.319
 my child

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.440
 don't quit

00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:18.259
 keep going

00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:20.039
 I'm with you

00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:21.299
 I'm right by your side

00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:22.440
 do not give up

00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.080
 keep going

00:30:23.080 --> 00:30:24.340
 we'll make it

00:30:24.340 --> 00:30:29.160
 the beginning

00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:29.980
 of the story

00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.700
 sermon

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.920
 I told you a story

00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:33.240
 about Dr. William Leslie

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:36.500
 I didn't end very well

00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:36.860
 for him

00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:39.439
 but in 2010

00:30:39.439 --> 00:30:40.859
 a team of missionaries

00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:43.740
 went to the Congo

00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:44.339
 and Angola

00:30:44.339 --> 00:30:45.139
 to share the gospel

00:30:45.139 --> 00:30:46.939
 for what they believed

00:30:46.939 --> 00:30:47.719
 was the first time

00:30:47.719 --> 00:30:50.159
 they thought these people

00:30:50.159 --> 00:30:51.000
 had never heard the gospel

00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.539
 before

00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.839
 and what did they find

00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:54.099
 this is what they said

00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:56.279
 when we got there

00:30:56.279 --> 00:31:00.319
 we found a network

00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:01.819
 of reproducing churches

00:31:01.819 --> 00:31:03.599
 throughout the jungle

00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:05.180
 each village

00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:07.139
 had its own gospel choir

00:31:07.139 --> 00:31:08.240
 though they wouldn't

00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:08.700
 call it that

00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:11.559
 they wrote their own songs

00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:12.079
 and they would have

00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:12.539
 sing-offs

00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:13.460
 from village to village

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.240
 they found a church

00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:15.259
 in each of the eight

00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:16.480
 villages they visited

00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.619
 scattered across

00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:18.399
 34 miles

00:31:18.399 --> 00:31:20.259
 they even found

00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.680
 a 1000 seat stone

00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:22.799
 built by hand

00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:23.240
 cathedral

00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:23.960
 in one of the villages

00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:25.200
 they learnt that this church

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:25.980
 got so crowded

00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:27.000
 in the 1980s

00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:27.460
 with people

00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.559
 walking miles

00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.180
 to attend

00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:31.680
 it started a church

00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:32.480
 planting movement

00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.140
 and it spread

00:31:33.140 --> 00:31:34.120
 to the surrounding villages

00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:35.559
 apparently Dr. Leslie

00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:36.340
 crossed the great

00:31:36.340 --> 00:31:37.920
 river Kualu

00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:40.980
 he spent months

00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:41.559
 travelling throughout

00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:41.940
 the jungle

00:31:41.940 --> 00:31:42.500
 and he would teach

00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:42.860
 the bible

00:31:42.860 --> 00:31:43.620
 he taught the tribal

00:31:43.620 --> 00:31:44.519
 children how to read

00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.220
 and write

00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:45.720
 he told them

00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.299
 about the importance

00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:47.000
 of education

00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:47.779
 he taught them

00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.519
 bible stories

00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:50.860
 Dr. Leslie

00:31:50.860 --> 00:31:51.720
 started the first

00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.740
 organised education

00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:53.460
 in those villages

00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:54.340
 took some digging

00:31:54.340 --> 00:31:55.000
 by the team

00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.500
 in the states

00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:56.039
 to find out

00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:56.720
 who Dr. Leslie

00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.160
 was

00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.079
 they only knew

00:31:58.079 --> 00:31:58.980
 one of his names

00:31:58.980 --> 00:31:59.940
 and they didn't know

00:31:59.940 --> 00:32:00.299
 whether it was

00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:01.299
 his first name

00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:02.120
 or his last name

00:32:02.120 --> 00:32:05.019
 they only knew

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.579
 the years

00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:06.400
 that he was there

00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:06.980
 and that he was

00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:07.759
 a baptist

00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.259
 by kind of

00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:09.019
 theological conviction

00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:11.000
 they discovered

00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:11.380
 that he was

00:32:11.380 --> 00:32:12.180
 Dr. William Leslie

00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:12.680
 who died

00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:13.360
 in 1984

00:32:13.360 --> 00:32:14.299
 in 1939

00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:15.220
 without knowing

00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:16.180
 any of the results

00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:21.920
 but William Leslie

00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:22.740
 closed his eyes

00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:23.339
 in this life

00:32:23.339 --> 00:32:24.900
 and he opened

00:32:24.900 --> 00:32:25.480
 them in glory

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:29.779
 with Jesus

00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:31.059
 standing beside him

00:32:31.059 --> 00:32:33.960
 and he discovered

00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:34.420
 didn't he

00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:36.440
 what Christ

00:32:36.440 --> 00:32:37.420
 can do

00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:40.240
 when we take courage

00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:40.680
 with him

00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:43.259
 standing by our side

00:32:43.259 --> 00:32:46.839
 keep going

00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:47.880
 my child

00:32:47.880 --> 00:32:50.000
 don't quit

00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:52.920
 I'm right here

00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:53.540
 with you

00:32:53.540 --> 00:32:54.900
 let's pray

00:32:55.340 --> 00:32:56.400
 let's pray

00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:57.019
 let's pray

00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.019


00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.700
 let's pray

00:32:57.700 --> 00:32:58.140
 let's pray

00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:58.140


00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:59.200
 let's pray

00:32:59.200 --> 00:32:59.820
 let's pray

00:32:59.820 --> 00:32:59.820


00:32:59.820 --> 00:33:00.560
 let's pray

00:33:00.560 --> 00:33:00.920
 let's pray

00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:01.519
 let's pray

00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:01.519


00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.920
 let's pray

00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:02.920


00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:04.000
 let's pray

00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.000


00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.000


00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.000


00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.000


00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.000


00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.000